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| VOLUME 5, NO. 4 | September 11, 2007 |
What's NewCamp Fareta 2007 and an Apprenticeship in Guinean Dance
Editor’s Note: Joti Singh, a current participant in ACTA’s Apprenticeship Program with master dancer Alseny Soumah, made time this summer to attend part of Camp Fareta 2007, held in Dunlap, California, in July. (Camp Fareta was supported in part by ACTA’s Living Cultures Grants Program.) Joti reflects on her experiences there as an extension of and complement to her apprenticeship this year with Soumah. For enthusiasts of West African dance, the second annual Camp Fareta, held at Camp Hye Sierra nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and founded by New York-based Guinean dance master Youssouf Koumbassa, is the ultimate adventure. For seven days, nineteen of the most talented U.S.-based artists from Guinea, Senegal, and Mali gathered in an idyllic setting not far from Yosemite National Park to instruct students in dance and drum. Fareta means “City of Dance” in the Susu and Baga languages of Guinea. This is certainly an accurate name for the camp. Because of the camp format and the isolated location, the activities are based solely on practicing and sharing the dances and rhythms of West Africa. Debbie Steingesser of San Francisco describes, “The service bars on my cell phone decreased as I drove up the mountain leading towards Camp Fareta. When I arrived at my final destination, 4,000 feet above reality in a pasture of redwoods, my spirit perked up as my cell phone died. I was free from the countless distractions of dance classes in the city. Traffic, cell phone ringers, BART delays, and evening work meetings dissolved into distant memories. My mind grew wide open in anticipation of the powerful, uninterrupted experience ahead.” Camp Fareta provides an intensive environment, while effacing the mundane distractions we normally face in the places where we live. A typical day at Camp Fareta begins with breakfast. After breakfast, there are two drum classes—one for beginners and one for advanced students. My first day at camp I heft a sanban to the lesson. A sanban is a two-headed drum—one side is played with a stick; the drummer plays a cowbell with the other hand. Oakland-resident Amadou Camara, former drummer for Ballet Djoliba, one of Guinea’s national dance companies, gives the lesson. He is patient, kind and informative. Although I am a dancer, my teachers often express the importance of learning to drum. Each rhythm is distinct from the next and has its own steps. A dancer must truly understand the intricacies of each rhythm to become an expert. Because Alseny Soumah, my master teacher, is training me to become a teacher, familiarizing myself intimately with the rhythms is absolutely necessary. The Alliance Congratulates Mestranda Márcia Treidler!Earlier this month, KQED, Kaiser Permanente and Wells Fargo honored and recognized Mestranda Márcia Treidler with a Latino Heritage 2007 Local Hero Award. Mestranda Márcia Treidler is the founder and artistic director of ABADÁ-Capoeira San Francisco, a former grantee in ACTA’s Living Cultures Grants Program. A 25-year veteran student of Mestre Camisa and one of the first women in the capoeira world to earn the title of Mestranda, Márcia founded ABADÁ-Capoeria San Francisco in 1991 when she was a recent immigrant from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. ABADÁ-Capoeira San Francisco was established to expand capoeira outside of Brazil and is dedicated to preserving, developing, and sharing the art with integrity, using capoeira as a vehicle to improve and enrich disadvantaged communities and the lives of people from all backgrounds. To read more about Mestranda Márcia’s recent award, please visit KQED’s website. To learn more about ABADÁ-Capoeria San Francisco, please visit their website. Inland Empire and San Joaquin Valley: Take the California Cultural Census!
The California Cultural Census is a public survey that explores the types of arts and cultural activities that people like to do. The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete. At the end of the survey, you may enter yourself into a drawing to win a $500 cash prize. The survey is available both online and in paper format, and in both Spanish and English. To take the survey online, visit their website. To request a paper version of the survey, email Shannon Hunter, Census Coordinator, or call (559) 237-9811. It is important that the results of the survey reflect the richness and diversity of your community. Please help us spread the word by forwarding this invitation to participate in the California Cultural Census to your network of friends and colleagues in the San Joaquin Valley and the Inland Empire. Last Chance to Chip In for the Alliance’s New Video CameraLast month we launched a first-ever fundraising campaign in The New Moon—asking you for help in raising $3,028 to buy a new video camera so our staff can take great video of the exceptional artists and organizations we work with. Today we’ve reached 75% of our goal—with a total of 48 supporters giving $2,280! Donations have ranged from $5 to $250. Thank you for supporting cultural democracy! We’re thinking about this project as a potluck—we’d like as many people as possible to contribute, as we’ll be putting these donations to use through use of this camera over the years. We’ve created a ChipIn.com webpage that makes it easy and convenient for you to make your contribution online. To donate visit ACTA’s ChipIn.com webpage. Some people may prefer to send checks in the mail directly to the Alliance at 1245 Van Ness Avenue, Fresno, CA, 93721. We’re extending our deadline for one more week until September 18, 2007. We’re just $748 short of our goal. We hope that you'll give every consideration to this effort to support our work in documenting the great work of California's traditional artists. Sincerely, Amy Kitchener FundingAlliance for California Traditional Arts' Traditional Arts Development ProgramDeadline: Ongoing ACTA’s Traditional Arts Development Program makes contracts up to $1,500 to support consultancies, mentorships, and travel opportunities that foster a new level of growth for individual folk & traditional artists and organizations engaged in this field in California. Requested services may be focused on organizational, program, and/or artistic development goals. Individual artists and cultural practitioners, as well as organizations, whether incorporated or not, may apply. A sampling of past contracts include: Artistic Mentorships Gen Taiko (San Francisco), an organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and presenting Japanese traditional arts including taiko (traditional Japanese drumming), traditional folk dance, and folk song forms. Its artistic director, Melody Takata, was trained by National Heritage Fellow Madame Fujima Kansuma to learn the Nihon Buyo (Japanese classical) dance called Kojo No Tsuki (Moonlit Castle Ruins). Ms. Takata taught the dance to four of her students and performed it at Gen Taiko’s 10th Anniversary Concert in November 2005. Organizational Consultancies: Kwashi Amevuvor (Los Angeles), a master drummer from Ghana, West Africa, worked with consultant Janet P***t, who assisted him with marketing and web design to develop professional promotional materials to publicize the work of the artist and the traditional cultural arts of Ghana. In addition, Ms. P***t’s consultancy supported Mr. Amevuvor’s efforts in organizing a cultural study tour of Ghana. Travel Opportunities The Eszterlánc Hungarian Folk Ensemble (Foster City) traveled to Southern California to perform for an audience of over two thousand at the annual Magyar Sajtónap (Hungarian Press Day) hosted by the newspaper California Hungarians. At this event Eszterlanc dancers had the opportunity to perform with members of the Karpatok Folk Ensemble of Southern California, which is led by Istvan Szabo. Requests for organizational consultancies, artistic mentoring, and travel support may be submitted to ACTA at any time. Download the application and application instructions from ACTA’s website or call (559) 237-9812 to request a copy be mailed to you. ACTA’s Traditional Arts Development Program is supported by grants from the California Arts Council, the Walter and Elise Haas Fund, and the National Endowment for the Arts. L.A. Treasures Award Deadline: Ongoing The California Traditional Music Society (CTMS) and the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) have announced the "Elaine Weissman L.A. Treasures Awards". This program supports folk and traditional performing and visual artists with $1,000 in funds for two public performances, workshops or exhibits - one planned by the award recipient, another chosen by DCA and CTMS. The Awards are named after Elaine Weissman, founder of CTMS and great promoter and supporter of folk and traditional arts, who passed away last year. An average of three L.A.Treasures Awards are given each month. For more information visit the California Traditional Music Society's website. The Guitar Center Music FoundationDeadline: Ongoing The Guitar Center Music Foundation’s mission is to aid nonprofit music programs across America that offer music instruction so that more people can experience the joys of making music. The Guitar Center Music Foundation accepts grant applications throughout the year from 501(c)(3) organizations that offer music instruction programs to participants of any age. The applicant program must successfully enhance the state of music education in the United States. The Grant Committee reviews all applications three times yearly, and grant awards range from $500 to $5,000. For more information visit the Guitar Center Music Foundation’s website. Choreographers in Mentorship Exchange Deadline: October 1, 2007 A project of the Margaret Jenkins Dance Company, Choreographers in Mentorship Exchange (CHIME) is a mentorship program for professional choreographers that provides grants and cost-free studio time to support an exploration between artists interested in learning from one another. CHIME continues its mission in the San Francisco Bay Area with its fourth year of mentorship support, while expanding its reach with a one-year pilot program in Southern California, through the generous support of The Irvine Foundation. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to attend an informational meeting, being held in San Francisco and Southern California. For more information, including information meeting schedules, guidelines, and application forms, visit the Margaret Jenkins Dance Company’s website. GRAMMY Foundation GrantsDeadline: October 3, 2007 The GRAMMY Foundation is accepting applications for $10,000 to $40,000 grants for archiving and preservation projects. Projects ready for preservation implementation may be granted $10,000 to $40,000. Planning, assessment, and/or consultation projects may receive between $5,000 and $10,000. Applications are due October 1, 2007, and the updated forms and guidelines must be used. A 90-minute conference call with GRAMMY Foundation staff will be held in August to answer any potential questions. Questions will be petitioned for in advance and answered during the call. Applicants are encouraged to attend. For more information, including downloadable guidelines and applications, visit the GRAMMY Foundation’s website. San Francisco Arts Commission
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FEATURES ABOUT ACTA The Alliance for California Traditional Arts strives to "ensure California's future holds California's past" by providing programs and services to support the state's diverse living cultural heritage. The Alliance cultivates the growth of traditional arts and culture through Stewardship, Services to Artists, and Connection-Making. CONTACT ACTA Website: Staff: Sherwood Chen, Associate Director Lily Kharrazi, Living Cultures Grants Program Manager Suzanne Hildebrand, Administrative Coordinator BOARD OF DIRECTORS Robert Arroyo, V.P. of Finance & Administration Melanie Beene Jo Farb Hernandez, Secretary Joel Jacinto, Sojin Kim, Ph.D. Amy Kitchener (ex officio) Frank LaPena Malcolm Margolin Libby Maynard Chike Nwoffiah, V.P. of External Development Peter Pennekamp, Executive Director Charlie Seemann, Board President Daniel Sheehy, Ph.D. Deborah Wong, Ph.D. Honorary Bess Lomax Hawes FUNDERS
Weavings of War: Fabrics of Memory Woven Witness: Afghan War Rugs and Afghan Freedom Quilt Landscaping America: Beyond the Japanese Garden Evolution of the ‘Ukulele: The Story of Hawaii’s Jumping Flea Kumeyaay: Indigenous People of Southern California Berkeley Old Time Music Convention Yuri Yunakov & His Romani Wedding Band Tamejavi Cultural Festival: Hands the Forge History The 8th Annual San Francisco World Music Festival 2007 San José International Mariachi Festival & Workshops Carolina Lugo’s Brisas de España Flamenco Dance Company 10th Anniversary Concert Ifugao Music & Dance Ensemble of Banaue A Taste of Folk Music: A Free Folk & Bluegrass Music Festival Bunraku: The National Puppet Theatre of Japan LIKHA 15th Anniversary Show and Expo The 13th Annual California Indian Storytelling Festival
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